title: Depressed coronary flow reserve is associated with decreased myocardial capillary density in patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the relationship between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and myocardial capillary density (MCD) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and normal coronary arteries.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Coronary flow reserve is depressed in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, particularly in those with end-stage congestive heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 18 patients, 48 +/- 10 years of age, who had a mean New York Heart Association functional class of 2.9 +/- 1.3, mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 22 +/- 8%, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 23 +/- 10 mm Hg. CFR measurements were made with a 0.014-inch pressure-temperature sensor-tipped guide wire placed in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery. Thermodilution curves were constructed in triplicate at baseline and during maximum hyperemia induced by intravenous adenosine. CFR was calculated from the ratio of mean transit times. Right heart endomyocardial biopsies were performed during the same procedure. Autopsied specimens from nonfailing hearts were used as controls. The tissue was histochemically stained with CD-34 for morphometric measurements of MCD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a close linear relationship between CFR and MCD (r = 0.756, p = 0.0001). The MCD in 7 patients with a CFR >or=2.5 (73.2 +/- 16) was similar to that measured in normal control patients, (85 +/- 11, p = NS). In contrast, the MCD in 11 patients with a CFR <2.5 was 33.2 +/- 14, which was significantly lower than in patients with heart failure and normal CFR (73.2 +/- 16, p = 0.001) or in controls (85 +/- 11, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A marked decrease in MCD was found in patients presenting with congestive heart failure as the result of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and a depressed CFR.
authors.affiliation: Third Cardiology Department, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftheria P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Tsagalou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anastasiou-Nana
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agapitos
authors.forename: Apostolia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gika
authors.forename: Stavros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Drakos
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Terrovitis
authors.forename: Argirios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntalianis
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Nanas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index